Carnival Triumph returns to Galveston

The last time we saw Carnival's Triumph cruise ship, it was at the end of a disastrous journey. Now, the Triumph is back in Galveston and about to set sail for the first time since that ill-fated trip. But this time, the cruise passengers will have more rights.

The engines are repaired, the back up power enhanced, and it has been scoured from stem to stern. As for passengers, plenty are ready to get back on board.

Gwen Medley and Sharon Hernandez spent a lot of time on the ill-fated Carnival Triumph.

"We were the last ones off," Hernandez said.

The Triumph is back in Galveston after undergoing $115 million in repairs. But the fire that crippled the ship in February has tarnished the company's reputation for some.

"Carnival has just lost my trust. Between the Splendor, the Triumph and the Dream -- three strikes and you are kind of out for a little while," Medley said.

But Hernandez is more forgiving.

"It will not stop me from going on another cruise," she said.

Those who do set sail on future cruises will have more protections than Triumph's last passengers, thanks to an adoption of an industry Passengers Bill of Rights. They include: the right to a full refund if a trip is canceled due to mechanical failure; the right to an emergency power source if the ships main generator fails; and the right to an overnight stay if the cruise ship must dock at an unscheduled port due to mechanical failure.

"The cruise line respects the passenger more than it did before, I think. And the passenger respects the cruise line for coming up with accepting the Bill of Rights," Galveston travel agent Susan Antonelli said.

Antonelli says passengers are coming back to cruise ships.

Lori Hoskins is even setting sail on the Triumph.

"I'm anxious to see what they have different as opposed to what it was and all the new things that they're offering.

The ship can accommodate nearly 3,500 passengers and a crew of about 1,100.

The ship is scheduled to resume year-round service from Galveston on four-day cruises to Cozumel, Mexico, and five-day cruises to Cozumel and Progreso, Mexico. It sets sail this week from Galveston with not one, but two sold out cruises.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. ___________________________________________________________